Portret van Pieter de Frans 1670 - 1713

This engraving by Pieter Schenk immortalizes Pieter de Frans, a professor of eloquence in Amsterdam. Note the elaborate wig, a symbol of status and intellectual prowess during the period. The wig, reminiscent of flowing manes, harkens back to the lion, a primal symbol of strength and authority, and evokes the god Apollo, whose cults spread through Greece and Rome. Observe how the fashion of elaborate hairstyles can be traced through history, echoing in different forms across cultures, such as the bouffants of the French court or even the towering hairstyles seen in ancient Minoan art. The human impulse to adorn and elevate oneself is primal; it speaks to the subconscious desire for recognition, power, and connection to archetypal symbols that resonate deeply within our collective memory. The emotional power of the image lies not only in the sitter's likeness but in how it makes use of enduring symbols of prestige. Fashion resurfaces in cycles, adapting familiar themes into ever-evolving visual statements.